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+--- Thread: Twitter users: what do these symbols mean: '>' '<'? (/thread-259.html)
Twitter users: what do these symbols mean: '>' '<'? - Nick - 09-30-2012 05:51 AM
Often times my friends will send tweets that have this at the beginning: >>>>>> (or <<<<<)
The number of symbols is often different.
Help?
- Nevuna - 09-30-2012 05:59 AM
> means greater or better than
< means worse than
If it has a - in it (<- and ->) it is an arrow pointing to the next point in the comment.
So if you wanted to say you prefer Harry Potter over The Hunger Games you'd put:
Harry Potter > The Hunger Games
And the more >>> there are the more you prefer it. For example:
Harry Potter >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Twilight
EDIT:
If the >>> are at the beginning it might be because they think the contents of that tweet are important so want you to notice straight away. For example:
You're far more likely to notice: ">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I love Harry Potter" in your TL than you are to notice: "I love Harry Potter" because most people won't put the >>> at the beginning. So there'll be lots of ones that say the comment without the >>>> and so your eyes will be far more drawn to the one with >>>> at the start.
EDIT 2:
So if you see 10 tweets in a row that say the same phrase, here's what it may look like:
@01 I love Harry Potter
@02 I love Harry Potter
@03 I love Harry Potter
@04 I love Harry Potter
@05 I love Harry Potter
@06 >>>>>> I love Harry Potter
@07 I love Harry Potter
@08 I love Harry Potter
@09 I love Harry Potter
@10 I love Harry Potter
You are far more likely to be drawn to the tweet from @06 because of the >>>> at the beginning.
EDIT 3:
But that's not to say that's what it actually means. All this is just a guess of a possible meaning. I could be totally wrong.
EDIT 4:
The number of symbols is usually different because how many are there doesn't matter. They'll just hold down the > key or press it a few times.